Coolayla

Down a narrow, winding lane off the A5025 north of Benllech is Traeth Bychan beach, a small, cosy, sheltered beach facing eastwards. From here you can enjoy panoramic views of the Great Orme and Liverpool Bay, Puffin Island, and behind the heights of Llanddona and on the mainland, the Carneddau peaks.

The edges of Traeth Bychan are rocky, while the middle area of the beach is sandy with a varying spread of small pebbles the length of the beach up to the dinghy park at the top. Given its sheltered position it’s no surprise that Red Wharf Bay Sailing and Watersports Club have their clubhouse here, and can often see dinghies, powerboats and small day fishing boats queuing up to be towed up the beach on their trailers.

At the dinghy park on this beach there are Lasers, Toppers, Mirrors, GP14’s and other classes. The beach faces the east and so is ideal for launching boats, when the prevailing wind on Anglesey is from the south west. When we arrived here the sun was out and some keen, though tired, sailors were helping guide a vehicle with launch trailer into the water.

Around the back of the beach are some interesting rock formations and above these thick grassy steep slopes and from here emerges the Anglesey Coastal Path route running from Benllech in the south to Moelfre in the north. The coastal path is well signposted and there is a gate on the left as you approach the beach down the hill, next to a small cottage which is built just above the rocks and the high water mark.

Just 25 metres or so from the beach as you go up the lane is Traeth Bychan beach cafe which sells cold and hot drinks, ice creams and snacks, while next to this is a car park and toilets. Opposite the cafe is a static caravan park which are ideally placed for those wanting to enjoy watersports or walk the coastal path.

Come and enjoy the fine sea views and coastline walks from this peaceful beach in the winter and autumn seasons, when there will be very little if any boating activity here. This beach at Traeth Bychan has a particular piece of maritime history attached to it not known to many people.

The “T” class submarine HMS Thetis was built in Cammell Laird shipyard in 1938. On 1 June 1939 she slipped her mooring in the Mersey with 103 crew aboard and made out for Liverpool Bay to carry out some manoeuvres. While on these trials some unusual extreme event took place which proved catastrophic and all crewmen except four were lost. Some months later, after HMS Thetis was recovered from the sea bed she was beached on the Anglesey coast at Traeth Bychan beach.

In summer sunshine this sheltered beach is bustling with energy as dinghies and power craft are launched and recovered from the sea, while on a crisp, fresh winter morning it holds a special tranquility. And all along, the memory of the Thetis and her crew remains.